Trading off "Memory" vs "Optimization"
If you can remember everything and there's no randomisation in your outcome like chess, there is absolutely no reason not to do that. Anybody who can remember all the possible board configurations in chess, by definition plays perfect chess. A perfect player would never lose.

Unfortunately, most practical problems can't be solved by brute-force, and that includes chess. All chess players learn general chess principles. Nobody could memorize all possible opening variations.

If you can somehow memorize every possibility, why not? But can you?